Thursday, May 12, 2011

1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY? You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10

2.WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10

3.HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.-- Derrick, age 8

4.WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?Both don't want any more kids.-- Lori, age 8

5.WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other.

Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10

6.WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7

-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and

have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - - Howard, age 8

7.IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?It's better for girls to be single but not for boys.

Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9

8.HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is...

9.HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.-- Ricky, age 10

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I'm gonna blog about this. Alot probably. Mostly because I want to keep track. Also because I think it's going to be really good for me to be on the other side for awhile and I don't want to miss any of it. And, sometimes I make my kids keep journals of what's going on with a show. I'm going to see if it's as useless as they sometimes act like it is. I was so nervous. Rehearsal was suppose to start at 6:30pm and at 5:45 I was pacing around my kitchen so giddy and nervous all at the same time! I didn't know what to expect; never worked with this director, not knowing everyone, not being on stage for 8 years and forever before that. We had some craziness at our house so I ended up being 10 minutes late because of an unforseen (is that even a word) emergency. I was mad at myself for being late so I ran in screaming, "Don't kick me out, please don't kick me out!" Mostly I begged for forgiveness. I'm not ashamed of that at all. So, in case you don't know, the premise of the show is that these five little nuns are doing a variety show to bury their dead sisters who died of botchulism (not spelled right) when Sister Juila, Child of God, made a batch of bad soup. The show is hilarious, completely inappropriate and has moments of complete blasphemy. Alyn, one of my very best friends who plays Reverend MOther, said it's okay to blaspheme because our audience will be mostly Mormon and not get why it's funny. She said this all the while laughing herself off her chair. ANYWAY, when I got into my van today I found a plate of cookies for the Little Sisters of Hoboken made by Sister Julia, Child of God (an anonymous nun). I took the cookies to rehearsal where Brittany (Sister Amnesia) ate one. Where upon she swelled up like a balloon because she is allergic to nuts which 'Sister Julia' had put in the cookies. Damn that Sister Julia, now she trying to off Sister Amnesia. Classic moment. My friend Alyn is probably the funniest person I know. She is wild. And makes me wild. And we were wild all night long. I have no idea how I"m going to be in a scene with her and not laugh because tonight sitting by her trying to read through the play we were both peeing our pants. Good thing I have four months to get this right. I get to be Sister Robert Anne. I love her. I forgot how naughty she is. She is constantly playing, and getting others to play with her. She is corrupting the novices, to which Sister Hubert replies, "Well, at least she's not in jail." I cannot tell you how many times my mother said that to me growing up. Robert Anne is the better part of me. I am super happy I get to be with her this summer.The other Nuns are fabulous. Sister Leo(Heather) and I get to do a dying nun ballet dance where I shall lift her and douse her in soup with my ladle from my tureen. I'm also wearing green high tops. And I get to choreograph the tap number. I loved, LOVED that our director (Andrew) just let us play tonight. He didn't try to direct us, he just let us go. I have never sat down to a cold reading and just let it all go, didn't care whether I sounded stupid or not. Being able to hear my voice and being bold with choices made the night so productive for me. I didn't feel scared. OR fake. And long, long story short, I quit acting 18 years ago because I could no longer hide behind this scared person I had been my whole life. I found me 18 years ago, and that me couldn't be on stage. It felt fake. I feel like now I am back to play, just me, all me. And I can't wait. Today was frustrating at my work. Why people feel the need to say things that you don't really need to hear is beyond me. It was the best ever to go do something else tonight, and not be defined by the walls of DAvis High. There is more to me than my job.Thanks for listening.

I am mostly amazed that I know these people. I am more amazed that they were willing to let me be there mom. Because I am a spaz. And I don't honor them nearly enough. They are teaching me more than I will ever learn from them. I see moments where I have faltered in raising them, but there is always something that makes up for it. Or takes it's place. I love these three pictures of them. Some of my favorite ones. Perhaps it's because I am perpetually baby hungry, but these pictures bring me joy. Being a mom is hard. It is kicking my butt. And it's just what I needed.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Just as sheep follow the shepherdBecause there is an affinity between themSo qualities and experiences and people follow us.

What we have become sings its own songVibrates like a tuning forkAnd is answered by its equal.

I would bathe you, wrap you In goodness and mercy, my love.I would feed you goodness and mercyFill our home with the sounds and smells and speechOf goodness and mercyUntil they are in the soft marrow of your bonesAnd in your expectation.

Look for nothing else.

Do not wake up thinking that something bad is coming.I know people whose creed seems to be:Surely badness and harsh judgment will follow me All the days of my life, especially todayAnd I'd be better off to stay in bed.Know that you are followed, tracked, pursuedNot by enemies and persecutorsBut by your best friends: goodness and mercy.

What I would teach you, child, I first must learn.

I must become a mother who bathes and wraps herselfIn goodness and mercy.Giving all to you and nothing to me Is not good.Forgiving you and finding fault with me Is not merciful.I must anoint myself with the oil of gladnessDress myself in colors of praise Serve myself from a full table That I might have life more abundantly.

And when I forget or failThen mercy from you and mercy from me.What a wonderful foursome we makeAs we walk this path:You, me, and the promisedGoodness and mercy that will follow usSurely, surelyAll the days of our lives.

Friday, May 6, 2011

"What a 2 weeks!!I am so happy to be around you. I am so excited for the next three days, they are going to be great.I hope you feel better today, you deserve to today. I heard 3 of our songs on the way to work today, reminded me of you and how much I love you.I am blessed."Love,Ry

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Okay, so I'm gonna tell you something. Let us never speak of it again after tonight. I'm going to whisper it, so read closely: ienjoyedmyruntonight. Please don't say it out loud! My crazy running sister-in-law and wacked out running friends will hear you and then they'll be all over me like sweat on a sports bra. I have noticed I enjoy running more when I'm stressed, irritated or flat out pissed off at someone. Maybe it's because when I'm the aforementioned situation where that emotion arises, I don't feel like I'm going anywhere. And when I run, well, we're bookin' it around the track at the Clearfield Acquatic Center. I'm still in audition hell. But here are a few things that have made me happy this week:I have a new dishwasher. My husband bought it. God bless him. I have a new Oak Ridge Boys CD that I found at Wally World for 5 smackers. Yeah, that's right, I said the Oak Ridge Boys. Judge me, why don't ya.I have fresh flowers in the vase on my kitchen windowsill. (I don't think that's one word. Oh well.)I get to eat chips and salsa with my cutest little friend tomorrow. I found a necklace of garlic gloves in my prop room. I have hung them on the lamp that sits by my door in my class room. (I think that is one word).I plan on keeping them there to ward off evil parents next week after my lists go up. If a particularly nasty parent shows up, I may stand up and put it around my neck, grab the nearest wooden stake I can find, and trust me when I tell you there are a few of those in my classroom, and take matters into my own hands. Oh, and if someone asks me 'is that okay?' one more time things are gonna get ugly.

Ann

My Beautiful Family

Friend Spotlight

Sydnie and Chad. Two people in my life who keep me laughing. I am so lucky to not only love my job, but to be able to do it with two people I love with my whole heart. Ry and I just got back from our yearly venture to San Diego, Chad and some other friends went with us. At one point in the back seat of the car, Chad and I were crying we were laughing so hard. And Syd? Well, what can be said about Syd. Here is a conversation we had the other day. Me - "Syd, what are you doing next Thursay?" Syd - "What day of the week is that?" Yes folks, that's Syd. In a nutshell. I love them both!!!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Duncan - "There is a kid in my class who is part mexican, part irish and a little bit fairy."
RyLeigh - "Well, I believe the fairy part, but the mexican-irish thing sounds sketchy."
Student - "Mrs. Thorne, I am having surgery on my foot this week so I won't be able to dance for the dance audition. Is that okay?"
Me - "Um, how can I give you a dance score if you can't dance?"
Student - "Oh, right. That's a problem?"

Me - "Britton, is that your hand?"
Asked during a photo op in San Diego two weeks ago.

Mom to RyLeigh - "Whatever you and your sister are whispering about and planning you make sure you include your little brother."
RyLeigh, looking extremely confused, "You want me to give him a makeover?"

Scene: Children 1, 2 and 3 all screaming at the same time. Mom enters room:
Mom "Holy S#@t! What is going on in here!"
Mom takes Kid 3 to van. Enters kitchen:
Kid 2 "We're in deep S#@t , aren't we Mom?"
Mom laughs so hard she can't stand up.
The end

In regards to a wedding reception held at her home:
"There are people I don't like. And they don't like me. Just don't come to my house."Sandy, my cutest backyard neighbor

Duncan: "Dad, what's a slut?"Ryan: "Someone who has lots of girlfriends."Duncan, pondering for a moment, "I want to be a slut."

"Time changes things, so what was . . . isn't, and what is . . . soon won't be. Constant change is the only reality."Sid Malwhed

"Unshaved legs are your only link to reality."Return to Me

In regards to directing shows,
"What's the big deal. You say,'hey go stand over there. And you go stand over there. And make it look good."
RyLeigh Thorne